BRC says retailers are already playing their part in tackling obesity
Reacting to the launch of the Government’s Obesity White Paper for England, the British Retail Consortium said retailers have been contributing to calorie reduction by reformulating products and changing portion sizes for years along with providing clear nutritional labelling.
Earlier this year, the UK’s seven largest food retailers in the UK committed themselves to all relevant pledges on food and alcohol in the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal.
However, the BRC stressed that the key to tackling obseity lies in changing consumer behaviour and that there must be a recognition that food is only one part of the obesity equation.
BRC’s director of food policy Andrew Opie said: “There is an obesity problem and the Government is right to look for solutions. Retailers have long recognised they have a part to play. They’ve been contributing to calorie reduction for years by changing recipes and portion sizes alongside promoting fresh fruit and vegetables and improving nutritional labeling.
“But understanding consumer behaviour is key to tackling obesity. Reducing the calories in a product doesn’t work if people just eat something extra as well. We are doing a lot to help, but individuals have to take responsibility for the choices they make and there must be recognition of the role of exercise and education.”
